First step towards a higher Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) or emotional quotient (EQ) is the capability of individuals to recognize their own, and other people's emotions, to discriminate between different feelings and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior. The term gained popularity in the 1995 book by that title, written by the author, psychologist, and science journalist Daniel Goleman, but his model has been criticized within the scientific community.

There are several models of EI. Goleman's original model may now be considered a mixed model that combines what have subsequently been modeled separately as ability EI and trait EI. Goleman defined EI as the array of skills and characteristics that drive leadership performance. The trait model was developed by Konstantin Vasily Petrides in 2001. It "encompasses behavioral dispositions and self perceived abilities and is measured through self report". The ability model, developed by Peter Salovey and John Mayer in 2004, focuses on the individual's ability to process emotional information and use it to navigate the social environment. Ref” Wikipedia

 New theories talk about EQ or EI and how it is more important than IQ? This is more pronounced in Leaders : they need to possess high level of EQ to be more successful.

The trait model is interesting to deliberate upon. If we compare it vis a vis Maslow’s hierarchy then we find something very interesting.

Persons at the higher level of Maslow’s hierarchy possess higher level of Emotional Quotient ( EQ ). In the above schematic representation we can see the attributes at each level. 

It also shows that at the Self Actualization level the person possess the “highest level of EQ”!

What are the facets of EQ as per the trait emotional intelligence?

1. Perception of Self and others.
2. Managing Emotions.
3. Controlling emotion.
4. Not impulsive.
5. Happy and content.

All these are only a perfect fit for the persons at the “Self-Actualization” stage.

What is “self-actualization”?

Self-actualization is a term that has been used in various psychology theories, often in slightly different ways. The term was originally introduced by the organismic theorist Kurt Goldstein for the motive to realize one's full potential. Expressing one's creativity, quest for spiritual enlightenment, pursuit of knowledge, and the desire to give to society are examples of self-actualization. In Goldstein's view, it is the organism's master motive, the only real motive: "the tendency to actualize itself as fully as possible is the basic drive... the drive of self-actualization." Carl Rogers similarly wrote of "the curative force in psychotherapy - man's tendency to actualize himself, to become his potentialities... to express and activate all the capacities of the organism." The concept was brought most fully to prominence in Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory as the final level of psychological development that can be achieved when all basic and mental needs are essentially fulfilled and the "actualization" of the full personal potential takes place, although he adapted this viewpoint later on in life, and saw it more flexibly.

Self-actualization can be seen as similar to words and concepts such as self-discovery, self-reflection, self-realisation and self-exploration. Ref : Wikipedia.

In lay man terms : it is all about knowing and accepting yourself!!

To get in to higher EQ zone the first step will be to accept and acknowledge oneself and then the rest of the traits will automatically follow suit.

“Don’t worry, be happy!! Always….”